Post by stabs felcher on Jun 16, 2006 3:40:45 GMT -5
From the book: "Crescentium, a Traveller's Guide", by Mintarin Maezorl
"Like a large crescent moon in the sea of the night sky is the land of Crescentium, the only continent known within range of our steam ships. Though a vast land, travel along the well worn roads is easy provided one does not venture too far from the beaten track.
THE VERIQUAE EMPIRE
In the flatlands known as the "bowl" there is an array of geographic phenomena, natural and otherwise, that offers great strategic protection for the Veriquae Empire. The forests in the south, the sea to the east, the inhospitable northern highlands and the Stonewall Mountain Range to the west have long seured King Rothan the second's rule against invasion by the Taradan Empire to the south.
Holmgard:
Central to the Veruquae Flatlands is the capital city of Holmgard, ruled over by King Rothan II. With around thirty thousand citizens, and surrounded by thick white stone walls, Holmgard is one of the most densely populated and heavily fortified cities in all of Crescentium. With the city gates to the north, south, east and west open day or night, the city is a hub of trade throughout the land, serving as a waypoint from the Lorcae Coal Mines to Port Natharin, from the industrial town of Graven to the frontiers of the south, taxes on all trade funds a healthy militia of around 2000 fighting men.
The city is home to the headquarters of many guilds, including the Scarlet Nocturne Society, the Order of the Eternal Dawn, the Mercenaries Guild, the Adventurer's Society, and of course Zugav's Eye.
It is said that a man with wealth can buy anything in Holmgard, except of course respect from the upper echelon. Highlanders are treated with contempt by the ruling Astoran, forced to live in ghettoes and disallowed the right to carry weapons in the street. Indeed, any Highland man seen wearing a kilt is subject to a 10 Crown fine, though many proud highlanders flaunt this law and continue to wear their clan's colours at the risk of their lives.
Graven:
North-west of Holmguard and the second largest city in the Veruquae flatlands, Graven is a city of industry. Around 18 years ago, with the invention of the steam engine, savants flocked to the town, and Universities of Technology swelled with new students. Since those days, inventions such as the percussion firearm, the mechanized water pump, and the steam boat have poured out of the town. It is the place to go if you want cutting edge technology.
Lorcae:
Far to the west of Holmgard are the coal mines of Lorcae, at the base of the Stonewall Mountain Range and protected on three sides by a high valley. Lorcae is a small town in a forested area. Many traders and courtesans visit the city regularly to provide the well-paid miners with an outlet for their hard-earned gold, and with a tavern on every street the town is a hotbed of violence and opportunity.
Lorcae is also the staging ground for expeditions into the Stonewall Mountain Range, and stout men with strong sword arms are hired by the dozen to make forays into the unknown lands and retrieve what they can of the abandoned artifacts left behind when the dwarves made their exodus over a hundred years before the Astoran arrived in Crescentium. An adventurer can expect to earn around a hundred gold pieces for each artifact returned, though the price varies depending on size and condition. A well made dwarven waraxe, for example, could sell for over 1000 gold if one found the right buyer.
Just east of the mines and built over the valley mouth allowing entrance to Lorcae is a fortress containing a garrison of 40 of Rothan's soldiers. In place to protect the mines from raids by southerners, the soldiers are often in conflict with the arrogant adventurers who stroll in and out of the town, as the latter seem to get paid a lot more for a lot less work (even if they do seem to die a lot).
Terriun Outpost
A few days east of Holmgard on the way to Lorcae is the Terriun outpost. Once just a supply depot for the Veriquaen army, it has expanded and become a stopover for travellers and adventurers looking to pick up supplies, repair their damaged weapons and armour or purchase new ones. It is also home to the adventuring guild known as Grey Ventures Incorporated. Considered the elite in the world of guilds, Grey Ventures only accepts proven warriors and mercenaries into their ranks, though their jobs do pay the most and carry the most prestige among other groups.
Reis
On the border of Teriquaen rule far to the north of Holmgard, and well worth the trip, the small town of Reis is famous for nothing more than being home to the Ivory Tower. The hundred foot building is -the- place to go for hiring a courtesan. Rumour has it that the most trusted clients are invited to enquire after the services of Lady Merida, an elven beauty from the distant forest-kingdom of Letherun. It is the much vyed after trade of Reis that makes it a meeting point for lusty adventurers who have been on journeys into the highlands.
The Castle Varus
West of Holmgard stand an old fortress of a warlord named Varus, who died over a century ago in 145 A.E. These days, the towers have crumbled, and the walls are covered in vines and much of the interior is believed to be rubble, and yet a fearful superstician still resounds about the place.
THE HIGHLANDS
A savage and noble folk, the Highlanders eke out an existance on the windswept lands of the Roshae Plateau. For a time, King Rothan the First sought to conquer the plateau as he had the flatlands, but staunch resistance on the part of the brave Highland warriors made this endeavour scarcely worth the effort.
There are seven different Clans still living in the Highlands, each of them consisting of around 200 families. Each is ruled over by a cheiftain they call the Long Laird, and while alliances are occassionally forged to see out a season of need, each Clan remains strongly independant.
Despite a reputation as barbarians, honour is an important part of life to the highlanders, and it is not overly different from what the more chivalrous Astoran term the "Rules of Engagement." It is said that a Highlander's Memory can outlast the mountains they call home, and a grudges unsatisfied by a blood-duel can run for many generations. Would that they could stop fighting amongst themselves, Holmgard might actually have something to fear of the Highlanders revolting and taking back their lands.
There are no real major settlements to speak of in the highlands, as their danses tend to be small and unnoteworthy. However, as a land largely uncharted, there are a good number of Sites of Lore which are of interest to the scholar and adventurer both.
THE TARIDAN EMPIRE:
South of the great Shadowlands forest live the other half of the Astoran who made the voyage from Krae in the east. The Taridan Empire is currently ruled over by King Kenridge the III, and maintains a peaceful trading alliance to the north. Veriquae may have the technology and the coal, but it is the diamonds and gold pulled from the mines in the south of Taridan, as well as thousands of acres of farming land that make the southern empire a valuable trading partner in both precious metals and stones as well as grain and rice.
There was a time when travel through the Shadowlands forest was ardyous and deadly, a time when trolls ruled the roadways and goblins dominated the treelines. But with the coming of peace, a great roadway, forty miles long, lined with watch towers at one mile increments, was built through the forest. Manned by a joint garrison of both Veriquae and Taridan troops, the wide roads are frequently busy with caravans heading in both directions."
"Like a large crescent moon in the sea of the night sky is the land of Crescentium, the only continent known within range of our steam ships. Though a vast land, travel along the well worn roads is easy provided one does not venture too far from the beaten track.
THE VERIQUAE EMPIRE
In the flatlands known as the "bowl" there is an array of geographic phenomena, natural and otherwise, that offers great strategic protection for the Veriquae Empire. The forests in the south, the sea to the east, the inhospitable northern highlands and the Stonewall Mountain Range to the west have long seured King Rothan the second's rule against invasion by the Taradan Empire to the south.
Holmgard:
Central to the Veruquae Flatlands is the capital city of Holmgard, ruled over by King Rothan II. With around thirty thousand citizens, and surrounded by thick white stone walls, Holmgard is one of the most densely populated and heavily fortified cities in all of Crescentium. With the city gates to the north, south, east and west open day or night, the city is a hub of trade throughout the land, serving as a waypoint from the Lorcae Coal Mines to Port Natharin, from the industrial town of Graven to the frontiers of the south, taxes on all trade funds a healthy militia of around 2000 fighting men.
The city is home to the headquarters of many guilds, including the Scarlet Nocturne Society, the Order of the Eternal Dawn, the Mercenaries Guild, the Adventurer's Society, and of course Zugav's Eye.
It is said that a man with wealth can buy anything in Holmgard, except of course respect from the upper echelon. Highlanders are treated with contempt by the ruling Astoran, forced to live in ghettoes and disallowed the right to carry weapons in the street. Indeed, any Highland man seen wearing a kilt is subject to a 10 Crown fine, though many proud highlanders flaunt this law and continue to wear their clan's colours at the risk of their lives.
Graven:
North-west of Holmguard and the second largest city in the Veruquae flatlands, Graven is a city of industry. Around 18 years ago, with the invention of the steam engine, savants flocked to the town, and Universities of Technology swelled with new students. Since those days, inventions such as the percussion firearm, the mechanized water pump, and the steam boat have poured out of the town. It is the place to go if you want cutting edge technology.
Lorcae:
Far to the west of Holmgard are the coal mines of Lorcae, at the base of the Stonewall Mountain Range and protected on three sides by a high valley. Lorcae is a small town in a forested area. Many traders and courtesans visit the city regularly to provide the well-paid miners with an outlet for their hard-earned gold, and with a tavern on every street the town is a hotbed of violence and opportunity.
Lorcae is also the staging ground for expeditions into the Stonewall Mountain Range, and stout men with strong sword arms are hired by the dozen to make forays into the unknown lands and retrieve what they can of the abandoned artifacts left behind when the dwarves made their exodus over a hundred years before the Astoran arrived in Crescentium. An adventurer can expect to earn around a hundred gold pieces for each artifact returned, though the price varies depending on size and condition. A well made dwarven waraxe, for example, could sell for over 1000 gold if one found the right buyer.
Just east of the mines and built over the valley mouth allowing entrance to Lorcae is a fortress containing a garrison of 40 of Rothan's soldiers. In place to protect the mines from raids by southerners, the soldiers are often in conflict with the arrogant adventurers who stroll in and out of the town, as the latter seem to get paid a lot more for a lot less work (even if they do seem to die a lot).
Terriun Outpost
A few days east of Holmgard on the way to Lorcae is the Terriun outpost. Once just a supply depot for the Veriquaen army, it has expanded and become a stopover for travellers and adventurers looking to pick up supplies, repair their damaged weapons and armour or purchase new ones. It is also home to the adventuring guild known as Grey Ventures Incorporated. Considered the elite in the world of guilds, Grey Ventures only accepts proven warriors and mercenaries into their ranks, though their jobs do pay the most and carry the most prestige among other groups.
Reis
On the border of Teriquaen rule far to the north of Holmgard, and well worth the trip, the small town of Reis is famous for nothing more than being home to the Ivory Tower. The hundred foot building is -the- place to go for hiring a courtesan. Rumour has it that the most trusted clients are invited to enquire after the services of Lady Merida, an elven beauty from the distant forest-kingdom of Letherun. It is the much vyed after trade of Reis that makes it a meeting point for lusty adventurers who have been on journeys into the highlands.
The Castle Varus
West of Holmgard stand an old fortress of a warlord named Varus, who died over a century ago in 145 A.E. These days, the towers have crumbled, and the walls are covered in vines and much of the interior is believed to be rubble, and yet a fearful superstician still resounds about the place.
THE HIGHLANDS
A savage and noble folk, the Highlanders eke out an existance on the windswept lands of the Roshae Plateau. For a time, King Rothan the First sought to conquer the plateau as he had the flatlands, but staunch resistance on the part of the brave Highland warriors made this endeavour scarcely worth the effort.
There are seven different Clans still living in the Highlands, each of them consisting of around 200 families. Each is ruled over by a cheiftain they call the Long Laird, and while alliances are occassionally forged to see out a season of need, each Clan remains strongly independant.
Despite a reputation as barbarians, honour is an important part of life to the highlanders, and it is not overly different from what the more chivalrous Astoran term the "Rules of Engagement." It is said that a Highlander's Memory can outlast the mountains they call home, and a grudges unsatisfied by a blood-duel can run for many generations. Would that they could stop fighting amongst themselves, Holmgard might actually have something to fear of the Highlanders revolting and taking back their lands.
There are no real major settlements to speak of in the highlands, as their danses tend to be small and unnoteworthy. However, as a land largely uncharted, there are a good number of Sites of Lore which are of interest to the scholar and adventurer both.
THE TARIDAN EMPIRE:
South of the great Shadowlands forest live the other half of the Astoran who made the voyage from Krae in the east. The Taridan Empire is currently ruled over by King Kenridge the III, and maintains a peaceful trading alliance to the north. Veriquae may have the technology and the coal, but it is the diamonds and gold pulled from the mines in the south of Taridan, as well as thousands of acres of farming land that make the southern empire a valuable trading partner in both precious metals and stones as well as grain and rice.
There was a time when travel through the Shadowlands forest was ardyous and deadly, a time when trolls ruled the roadways and goblins dominated the treelines. But with the coming of peace, a great roadway, forty miles long, lined with watch towers at one mile increments, was built through the forest. Manned by a joint garrison of both Veriquae and Taridan troops, the wide roads are frequently busy with caravans heading in both directions."